"Chin up princess, or the crown slips." -Unknown

It has been a week since the Monday we skipped work. We were back that Tuesday, and let me tell you, it has been awkward. I head to work, with Gunner, and we barely talk. It doesn't help that it is a Monday. Screw Mondays. I go into my office and sit down, somewhat glad that Gunner isn't with me right now.

About 20 minutes into working, I decide to go see if there is any important mail waiting for me to go through with regards to accounting. They always organize it out by department for us at the front desk, and I try to check it every morning, just in case. Mondays are the worst, because this weekend's, and todays mail is always waiting for me. I grab the handful from Debbie, one of the front desk women, and head back to my office. I am walking through the multiple cubicles, past Brianna and Brody and stop dead in my tracks as Gunner walks out of his office.

It has been like this since last Monday.

I stop and stare at him as he walks out of the office, eyes glued to anywhere but mine, and walks down the aisle way I am in. I step out of the way so he can get past, keeping my eyes transfixed on his beautiful blue eyes. He walks past me, mumbling a quiet "excuse me" before heading off. My heart is racing and I can feel the flush on my face, simple because one of his hands accidentally brushed my leg. Then I got that captivating smell-his captivating smell. I inhale deeply, knowing that I rarely smell it. I love his scent. I only smell it when he is sleeping, but he is so far away, I rarely even get it then.

I rush back to my office and slam the door and try to focus on work, but it is quite difficult. I never knew anyone could cause a response like that. Ever. I place my fingers on my temples and rub in slow, circular motions, feeling the headache slowly surfacing. My eyes snap open hearing a knock at my door.

Please don't be Gunner. Please, please! Don't be Gunner!

"Come in." I said softly, feeling really nervous.

"Hey, pretty lady." Brianna's voice rings through my office. "I needed a break from my work, and it seems you do too."

"How could you guess." I said sarcastically, resuming rubbing my temples.

"What the hell is going on between you and Gunner. You guys won't go near each other, you might come to work together, but run into your offices quicker than the Flash. Then, when you happen to see each other, you guys stare at each other like you want to rip the others clothes off and take each other on the desks in front of us all. Then you get flushed and he gets frustrated. Seriously, what the crap?" She rambled, and I almost laughed.

If I wasn't so stressed out, I would laugh. 'What the crap,' really Brianna? Only her could use weird statements like that.

"Ah, so everyone has noticed. Awesome." I said, taking a sip of my water.

"We have literally been avoiding each other since last Monday. We talked all day, hung out with you guys, went to bed, and when we woke up, we immediately avoided each other, and it has been that way since. I mean, I am not purposely avoiding him, really. He is avoiding me in every which way." I said, realizing how pathetic I am starting to sound.

"I wonder why. Did you guys talk about something horrible or were you being a biotch to him or something? Gunner is always Mr. Straight-to-the-Point. That is so out of character for him being like this." She said.

"I... I don't know. I don't think so." I said and tried to take a sip of my water, but saw her eyebrow perk up. "What?" I shouted because she was staring at me like that. She just lifts her eyebrow even more. "Fine... He didn't kiss Kay. He actually fired her for it, and I just walked in at the wrong time. But, you obviously know my past. It is really hard to get past everything, and to be comfortable with a guy again. Gunner wants a relationship. I don't know if I do. I don't know what I want. I told him that I am not ready, and he is willing to wait till I am, but I don't know if I will ever be." I stated, staring down at my desk. There was silence and I look up to see Brianna's crazy glare on me.

"You seriously told that beast that you weren't ready to be with him? If you aren't, I am." She said, unbelieving. I roll my eyes and turn away. "Abella... He is crazy about you; can't you see it? My vote says give him a chance, but it's up to you. Just don't mess it up, you two need each other."

I turn and stare at her.

"You know we sleep together?" I ask, but decide to rephrase. "Like, you know, in the same bed? But he wants nothing to do with me. And, I mean, I'm not trying to have sex with him or even make him cuddle me, but he sleeps on top of the blankets now. He won't even come under with me... It's like, he's... repulsed by me. He always goes to bed after I'm asleep and wakes up before I am up; it's like he even avoids me in the bedroom. I don't expect much, but I definitely don't expect him to hide."

"Really? That's odd. Maybe he is just that turned on by you." I almost killed her. I took the stress ball I have that is shaped like a hand grenade (courtesy of my father) and threw it at her. It hit her in the top of my head and she stared at me. "What, bitch? You never know. Just ask him, so I don't have to think of the worst things."

"You wanna fight?" I said, completely jokingly. We both chuckle and take a deep breath. "It really is all my fault. I was hurtful, and I'm sure he wants nothing to do with me. I need to get over my fears, but I don't know how."

"Just talk to him, figure out why he's distant. Communication is key." She took a long pause. "So... have you found your dress yet?"

"No, he isn't speaking to me, let alone taking me dress shopping." I said, and she tossed the stress ball back at me. I chuckle and sit it down.

"Well, if he doesn't, me and you will go, bring Mia, Rose and Vienna. Deal?" She asks softly, knowing I am hurting. I honestly am.

"But, he seriously looks at you so longingly it makes me sick. And I ship you guys, so that is saying a lot. Want to go with me to get some water?" She asks and I happily walk to the door with her. We walk out and nearly run into Gunner. He looks at me, for the first time in a week, like directly at me and my heart jumps. He stares longingly at me. "See what I mean?" Brianna whispers, and I smack her arm. He hurries off and I squeeze Brianna's arm and follow Gunner to his office.

"Gunner?" I ask when he is ready to shut the door on me.

"What?" he asked sharply, and I jumped. I shut the door behind me and stand in his office awkwardly. There was at least a minute of silence before I could speak, and he keeps his back to me, unmoving.

"Wh... Why are you ignoring me?" I asked, not recognizing my own voice. It was so weak.

"I'm not." He said plainly.

"Oh, sorry. Why are you avoiding me, not looking at me, not speaking to me, et cetera?" I know now isn't the time for sarcasm, but I can tell he wouldn't answer to that.

"I haven't avoided you, I just don't happen to run into you." He still wouldn't look my way.

"You don't happen to run into me on purpose." I said sarcastically under my breath and he stiffens. "Look at me Gunner." I said softly. He doesn't move. "See, you won't even look at me."

Hesitantly, he turns around.

"What the hell do you want me to do now? Dance? Sing?" He says sarcastically. I glare at him.

"No, I want you to stop avoiding me and being a jerk!" I shout. If he is going to be a jerk, I will be too.

"Oh, so now I am a jerk? I am avoiding you, not speaking to you, not looking at you, AND I'm a jerk? Hmm." He runs his hand through his hair and I step towards him.

"You said it... not me." I said and he steps towards me.

"I was being sarcastic."

"You could've fooled me."

"Why are you acting like this? Just because I didn't make you the center of the world this week, your all pissed off?" He asks angrily, taking his suit jacket off and draping it over the chair beside him.

"WHAT?" I shouted. "You think I can't handle not being a princess? News flash: This has nothing to do with me being the center of the world, Gunner!"

"Oh really? I am IGNORING you, not LOOKING at you, not SPEAKING to you, and you think it has nothing to do with the fact that I am not putting you first? Really? I think you need a new personality that will get your crazy mind straight." He shouted, stepping towards me.

"Oh really? I think you need a new assistant that will put up with your crazy mind." I said, stepping back. I can feel the tears puddle my eyes. "I will have my two-weeks-notice on your desk by the end of the night." I run for the door I get the handle turned and it cracked an inch, but I am grabbed roughly by the arm and yanked back into the office, and the door slams shut as my back collides against it harshly. Next thing I notice is a hard body pressed against mine, and his arms on both sides of my waist.

"Please, don't go." He says softly. Way softer than I thought possible right now.

"Let go of me. I told you I want to go." I said, still heated.

"Daisy, your torturing me." He admitted quietly, lying his head on my shoulder.

"Your torturing me by treating me this way."

"Please forgive me. It is so hard to see you every day. To know I can literally reach out and touch you, hell I even sleep in a bed with you, but you are still just out of reach." He responds.

"Well, if you'd stop f*%#ing ignoring me..." I was cut off by his lips crushing against my cheek and I am stunned. Something so intimate and innocent, but it aroused something inside of me. It made my insides jello. Before I could respond, he opened the door from behind me and ripped it open quickly, and runs out.

I mean, he doesn't actually run out, that would be too suspicious. He just quick walks.

I walk out of his office in a daze.

I fought with him.

I quit.

He begged me to stay.

He kissed my cheek.

Then left angrily.

What?

I ran into a chest and looked up grateful to see Kane's face.

"Sorry, Kane." I said, without the pep in my voice I normally have.

"Alright, what is wrong?" He asks off the bat. I roll my eyes and look up to him.

"Come with me to my office." I said and drug him with me. We enter my office and he sits opposite with me.

"What the hell is wrong with Gunner?" I asked, getting to the point. Kane has got to know; he is his best friend.

"That is classified information, my love." He said, and it stirs my anger.

"No, it isn't. Don't be like that, jerk. Why is he ignoring me, and better yet, why did he scream at me, beg me to stay, kiss me, then run out of his office like he was on fire?" I asked, getting frustrated over this.

"Oh God, he didn't." He pauses in thought and looks straight at me. "He is hurting, Abella. He doesn't do emotions, and here you swoop in and stir up emotions he didn't know he had. He is confused. He really cares for you, and then you come in and act like a crazy person, and then shut him down, and now he is confused. Hell, I have only seen him with emotions with like... one person... His-" I cut him off to finish his sentence.

"Sister. Oh God." I state putting my head in my hands and shake it. I can't believe the only time he has shown emotion was towards a heartless person like me, and I shut him down.

"Yeah, you were kind of..." he pauses as if thinking of the right word. "Cruel."

"You mean; I was being a b*@%!." I paused and he blanches. KANE blanching over little old me. Huh. "I was though. I should have hurt him like that. It isn't his fault she came onto him. Oh God. He probably won't want me after this, and I am still working on being back into relationships, so maybe I should wait."

"Then tell him THAT. Don't make it seem like it is his fault or that it's because of what Kay did. Tell him it is because you are still learning to get back into relationship mode."

"Your right." I said simply and he smiled.

"I know, love." God he is such an egocentric turd. "So, how is Rose doing?"

I stop breathing and stare at him. Did he just ask about my sister?

"Why? What is going on between the two of you?" I asked suspiciously.

"Whaat? Nothing! I just haven't talked to her much." He is keeping something from me.

"Wait, aren't you two in the same bedroom?" I asked eying him, thinking of the things he could do.

"Yes, but... Oh God no I didn't do anything. I just am curious." I rolled my eyes.

"Are you into my sister? What did you do?" I asked, and glared at him.

"Get off of my back. I am not into your sister."

"You are. I saw the way you've been looking at her, but then it makes me worry. Don't treat her like you other girls." I respond.

"Stay out of my business. Just because I ask how she is doesn't mean I like her!" He shouts angrily, and I kind of scared. I have never seen him lose himself.

"Obviously you do or you wouldn't be so defensive!" I fire back.

"Shut the hell up and back off! Why are you accusing me of crap, you are the one being a b*%@&!" He shouts and I recoil, shocked by him calling me a... b*$&@. I just stare at him and he looks at my face as a tear escapes my eye. I won't cry in front of Gunner because he is my, interest. But since Kane is my brother, I don't care. Did he really just...

Before I could continue thinking, he was out of the door and as far away as he could be. I sit at my desk as I feel a tear escape the other eye. Slowly I sit my head on my desk, leaned on my arms, and sob and let the tears flow freely. I don't know how long I was like that, but I am just... in shock.

Bloody hell, I have been in two huge fights and it isn't even lunchtime yet.

The door to my office swings open, and my head shoots up to see Brianna, as she says:

"Chin up princess, or the crown slips."